Car truck



May 31, 1927. 1,630571 B. W. KADEL ET AL CAR TRUCK Filed May 20. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet l May 31, 1927.

GAR TRUCK Filed May 20. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet mvemtou 40 /0 4o Patented Ma31, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,630,571 PATENT OFFICE.

IBYEBS W. KAIDEL, Q]? BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND DONALD S. BABROWS, OF

- ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

GAB TRUCK.

Application filed Kay 20, 1926. Serial No.110,510.

This invention relates to railway car trucks and, more particularly, tothe construction of the bolster and associated springs and retainerstherefor for reserving some of the spring capacity until after apredetermined bolster deflection.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is thedesign of the bolster, springs, and spring plates associated therewithwhereby a portion of the spring capacity is not brought into play untilafter certain of the springs have been stressed a predetermined amount.

An object of our invention is the employ- 'ment of a bolster rovidedwith a downwardly opening poo et over one or more of the spring unitssupporting the same whereby the supporting capacity of said spring unitsis reserved until the other spring units are stressed a predeterminedamount.

Another object of our invention is the design of the bolster and thearrangement of the springs and the construction of the spring platestherefor for permitting successive compression of said springs, theupper spring plate, for that purpose, being formed in a plurality ofparts adapted for successive engagement by the bolster and separatespring retaining means extending between said separate upper springplate and the corresponding lower spring plate, the bolster, where itoverlies said upper spring plate, being formed with bearing areaspositioned at difi'erent elevations so that the spring or springsunderlying one 'or more of said spring plates is not brought into actionuntil after a predetermined deflection of the bolster.

A further object of our invention is the provision of an additionalspring unit associated with an A. R. A. standard four unit nest ofsprings for increasing the capacity of car trucks with which employed,the associated spring plates being formed to correspond with and receivethe extra spring unit and provided with means for locating the same withrespect to the associated spring plank and bolster, the upper springplate for said nest of springs bemg formed in two parts, one of saidparts being adapted for retaining the four original spring units and theotherpart being adapted for retaining the additional spring unit, thebolster bein formed with a recess overlying the additional spring. unitand its spring plate and adapted for receiving said plate and the upperportlon of the spring unit, whereby said fifth spring unit is notengaged by the bolster until after. the other spring units have beencompressed a predetermined amount.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement and construction of the various parts Wlll become apparentas the description proceeds. Referring to the drawings illustrating our1nvention,. the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation .of a car truck, shown partlyin section, and

particularly illustrating the construction of the various membersassociated with the bolster springs.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4. is a plan of the spring plank seat' portionof the side frame,the position of the springs thereover being diagrammatically indicatedby dot and dash lines.

Figure 5 is a top plan of the bottom spring plate.

Figure'6 is a partial transverse sectional view corresponding to Figure3 and showinga modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by likereference characters, a truckside frame 1 is shown fragmentarily and is,in the present embodiment of our invention, of integral castconstruction embodying a compression member 2, a tension member 3 andbolster guide columns or strutsd spacing intermediate portions of saidcompression and tension members, leaving a bolster or window opening 5therebetween; The compression member 2,

over the bolster openinggfis indicated as of bolster guiding portionsthereof, while the tension member 3, beneath the bolster opening 5, isshown as substantially box shape in an em 0 cross section. In this'particul ment, the tension member 3, beneath the bolster opening, isformed with an up er web 6, a lower web 7, a front or outer we 8 and arear or inner web 9, said webs 8 and 9 preferably remainingsubstantially upright for their entire length but positioned more widelyapart beneath the spring plank seat portion for more efiicientlysupporting the springs located thereover. The web 7 is preferably formedof substantially uniform width except beneath the bolster opening whereit is widened to correspond with the wider spacing of the webs 8 and 9which extend from the edges thereof to the upper web 6. In order to forma spring plank seat portion of ample width, the web 6 is extendedlaterally beyond the upper edges of the webs 8 and 9 forming outward orfront flange or shelf portions 10 and inward or rear flange or shelfportions 11.

The spring plank 12 preferably rests directly on the upper web 6 of thetension memher beneath the bolster opening which forms the spring plankseat portion and the upper surface of said seat portion is preferablyrovided with A. R. A. standard squaring ugs 13 which engage incorresponding apertures 14 in the s ring plank for maintaining thedesired relation between the spring plank and side frame. The end of thespring plank 12 is preferably formed with an embossment 15 to limit theoutward-shifting of the associated spring group. The length of thespring plank is preferably sllghtly greater than a standard spring plankbecause of the additional spring group or unit with which it is adaptedto be used in the present embodiment but it is to be understood that.

the broad principle of our invention may be utilized in connection withmany other embodiments involving the employment of standard springplanks or spring planks constructed in any desired manner. The width ofthe springplank at the ends thereof is slightly greater than normalbecause of the increased corresponding dimension of the spring group ornest with which employed, but the spring plank may be formed from ablank of standard width with the flanges decreased in height at the endsof the plank to correspond with the necessary in-. crease in width ofthe plank for the accommodation of the preferred spring arrangement. Asshown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the spring plank 12 is of channelconstruction and the web thereof is formed with spring platelocatingapertures 16 so positioned that, when the lank is assembled withthe side frame, said apertures are located on the longitudinal centerline of the frame.

Positioned on the web of the spring plank 12 is a spring plate 17 formedwith locating bosses or extensions which engage in the apertures 16 ofthe spring plank and properly position the spring plate and theassociated spring units 19. In the embodiment illustrated, the bosses 18are formed by pressing substantially conical extensions downwardly fromthe plate 17 but it is obvious that they may be of any desiredconstruction. In accordance with our invention, in a preferredembodiment illustrated, we preferably employ an A. R. A. standard fourunit nest of springs which is positioned on the sprin plate 17 but theunits thereof are more widely spaced with respect to each other thannormal for receiving an additional spring unit 20 centrally thereof.Each of the grou s of springs or spring units 19 and 20 pre erablycomprises, in accordance with usual practice, an outer coil 21 and aninner coil 22. All the springs are preferably positioned directly on thespring plate 17 and properly located with respect thereto by means ofupstanding annular flanges or collars 23 which engage the innermostsprings 22 of the spring groups 19 and 20.

In order to accommodate the extra or reserve spring group or unit 20,the spring plate 17 is correspondingly extended in area, as shown mostclearly in Figure 5, and

'formed with five instead of four spring 10- cating collars 23. Theadditional group of springs 20 is preferably centrally located withrespect to the other springs 19 in accordance with the normal spacingbetween said springs and lies, when assembled, on approximately thelongitudinal center line of the side frame so that the entire groupbalances about said longitudinal center line, that is, its center ofgravity corresponds therewith. The locating bosses 18 are likewisearranged so that they lie on the longitudinal center line of the sideframe, when assembled, and, therefore, are in line with the springcollar for the reserved spring group 20, as most clearly shown in Figure 5. A

The upper spring plate 24 is preferably identical in outline with thelower spring plate 17 but is reversed in position so that the collars 23thereon extend downwardly and engage the inner springs 22 of the springroups or units 19, the outer springs 21 bemg properly positioned bybeing wound in an opposite manner compared with the inner springs andclosely encircling said inner springs. Said spring plate 24 is formedwith an aperture 25 large enough for receiving the central spring unit20 with the normal clearance therebetween and a separate spring plate 26is provided for said spring 28 inwardly to 29 and said bolster ispreferably of a length corresponding with the increased length of thespring plank.

For retaining the spring plates 17, 24 and 26 in the desired assembledrelation with respect to the springs therebetween, the spring locatingcollars on the plates 17 and 26 engaging the central unit or group ofsprings are preferably formed with inwardly extending annular ledgeportions 30 leaving openings 31 for the reception of a retaining bolt orother connecting means 32 extending therebetween with a headed portionand nut, respectively, engaging the ledge portions 30 on the springplates 26 and 17. For retaining the spring plates 17 and 2,4 in thedesired assembled relation with respect to the springs therebetween,there is preferably provided a pair of embossments 33 on each springplate extending toward corresponding embossments of the other springplate and apertured centrally at 34 for receiving retaining bolts or thelike 35, the heads of said bolts being adapted to receive the shouldersof the embossed portions around the apertures 34 in one sprin plate andthe nuts on the other ends of said olts being adapted to similarly engae with the other spring plate. These embossments 33 are preferablyextended to such a height or depth that the bolts 35 used therewith mabe short enough to obviate the necessity 0 providing retaining boltapertures in the spring plank seat portion of the side frame and/or theassociated spring plank. The embossments 33 are preferably, though notnecessarily, positioned as indicated on the longitudinal center line ofthe side frame and formed in correspondingly extended portions of thespring plates provided within the clearance limits between the flangesof the spring plank and bolster guiding portions of the side frame.

The spacing of the standard or outer four units is preferably such thatthe length of the group in the direction of the length of the side framecorresponds with the bolster opening so that the assembled nest ofsprings may be inserted through said opening and positioned over thespring plank seat portion I of the frame with the necessary clearanceonly provided with respect to the bolster columns. The spacing of thefour outer spring units in a direction transverse to the side frame orlongitudinally of the spring plank is governed bythe space necemary forthe central spring unit 20 and, in accordance with this requirement andotherwise spacing the springs in this direction a minimum distance apartwhile still'allowing normal clearance therebetween, it will be apparentthat the spring arrangement is substantially or approximately square inoutline, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 4. More particularly,the arrangementor outlinev of the nest of springs is rectangular, thelon axis of the rectangle extending transverse y of the side frame, butbeing onl slightly longer than the short axis thereo which extendslongitudinally of said frame. 7 w

In order to allow for compression of the springs due to the load on thecar, the spring plank 12 is preferably apertured at 36 directly beneaththe bolt or other retaining means 32 and the upper web 6 of the tensionmember of the side frame is formed with a registering aperture 37. Theedges of thespring plank seat portion or upper web 6 of the tensionmember adjacent the aperture 37 are preferably reinforced by dependingflange or collar portions 38 so that the strength of the frame is notmaterially decreased by said aperture '37. Q In order to provide forstressing the spring units successively rather than simultaneously, thebolster 28 is formed with a downwardly opening pocket 39 overlying, inthe present embodiment, the central spring unit 20 and its retainingspring plate 26.

The pocket 39 is preferablycircular and 'of sufficient size to justreceive the spring unit 20 and its associated plate 26 with normalclearance therebetween and of a depth corresponding to the compressionof 'the other springs desired before it is considered ad.

visible to bring into play the additional or reserve spring capacity ofthe spring unit 20. For example, the depth of the pocket or recess 39may correspondto one-half the compression to the capacity of the otherspring units so that the additional or reserve spring capacity will comeinto play only after one-half the rated load has been applied tothe fourouter spring units of the nest of springs, it being obvious that undersuch circumstances,'the central spring unit,

if of a size corresponding with the four outer spring units, would onlybe adapted for compression to one-half the rated compression thereof andthe arrangement shown would give an effective spring capacitycorresponding to four and one-half spring units. Of course, theforegoing is only a suggestion asit is contemplated to form the recessor pocket 39 in accordance with the conditions under which the springsare to be used and the effective depth of the pocket 39 may be varied toget the most desirable operative conditions for the springs by the useof spring plates 26 of varying thickness or washers or' shims inconnection therewith. We do not wish to be restricted to reserving thecapacity of only the spring'unit as shown in the present embodiment as,if desired, a plurality of spring units may be reserved in' a similarmanner. a

For adequately reinforcing the spring plank seat or upper webti of thetension member 3 for supporting .the novel arrangement of springs inaccordance with our .in-=

vention, said web 6 is preferably formed and reinforced as most clearlyshown in Figures 3 and 4. It will be a parent that the front or outerflange or le ge 10 is extended in width to a maximum below the outerspring units and extended at uniform width between said outer springunits, A similar construction for the flange 11 occurs beneath the innerpair of spring units. A proximately beneath the outer springs, t eextended flange 10 is preferably reinforced and braced with respect tothe web 8 by means of preferably triangular web or bracket portions 40and the inwardly extending flange 11 is similarly reinforced bypreferably substantially triangular web or racket portions 4.1 extendingdirectly beneath the inner spring units between said flange 11 and theinner web 9.

As a further reinforcement'for the spring plank seat portion or web 6 ofthe tension member, the reinforcing collar or web 38 around the aperture37 is preferably joined to the side webs 8 and 9 by depending ribs orwebs 42 and 43, respectively, positioned directly under the transversecenter line of the central spring unit 20, as'most clearly indicated inFigure 4. From a consideration of this figure, particularly, it will beapparent that the webs or brackets 40 and 41 together with the collar 38and webs 42 and 43 are positioned most efliciently for adequatelysupporting the springs positioned thereover especially as the efiiciencyof the arrangement is increased by the wider spacing of the side webs 8and 9 directly beneath the spring plank seat portion of the frame. Itwill be apparent that although the aforedescribed reinforcement isespecially designed for the five unit nest of springs arranged inaccordance with my invention, yet it is admirably adapted for supportingthe A. R. A. standard four unit nest of springs when the same arepositioned so that the center of gravity thereof lies on thelongitudinal center line of the side frame.

Referring now particularly to Figure 6, a modification is shown whichutilizes 'a single, 11 per spring plate 24 rather than a plum ity ofspring plates 24 and 26, as in the, first modification. The centralportion 1 26 of said upper spring plate 24 is upward- 1y embossed intothe pocket 39 and is of a size corresponding to said pocket and thecentral spring unit 20 so that it receives said central spring unit andreserves the capacity thereof until after the desired compression of theother spring units. This alternative construction obviates the necessityof the additional retainingbolts 35 and uses merely a single retainingbolt 32 of correspondingly increased length. upon deflection of thebolster, the four outer springs 19 will be compressed an amountcorresponding to the depth of the pocket 39 of It will be apparent thatthe bolster before the central spring unit 20, which is received in thecorresponding embossment in the upper spring plate 24 is engaged by saidupper spring plate and, particularly, the embossment 26 thereof tocompress said spring unit. Exce t as specifically described inconnection wit Figure 6, the other details of constructionmaybeidentical with that disclosed in connection with the first modificationillustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that we have devised aconstruction which provides for a reserved spring capacity approachingtwenty-five percent of the initial spring capacity with a reservedspring unit like the other spring units and adapted for considerablevariation either way by using a stronger or weaker secondary or reservedspring unit without radically changin the construction of the side frameand spring plank. Although the arrangement has been shown in connectionwith a normal design for fifty-five ton side frames yet, as is obvious,it is not limited to frames of such capacity and the broad idea offorming a pocket in the bolster over a portion of the bolster s ringsfor reserving a certain proportion o the s ring capacity until after theremainderof t e springs are stressed a predetermined amount may beutilized with an desired type'of frame, bolster, spring p%ank and'associated springs and spring p ates.

Having now described our invention, we claim:

1. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolsteropening and a spring plank seat portion under-l ing said opening, a nestof 5 rings of um orm normal height suppo by said sp plank seat portion,and a bolster sup rted y said nest of springs, said bolster King soconstructed that the springs will be successively loaded.

2. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolsteropening and a spring plank seat portion beneath said opening, a nest ofsprings'supported above said spring plank seat portion, and a bolster suporte over said nest of springs, said bo ster being so constructed thatcertain of the sprmgs are initially stressed and that the remainder ofthe spring capacity is brought 1nto play after the bolster hasbeen'deflected a predetermined amount.

3. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster og and a spring plank seat portion un erlying said opening, a nest ofsprings su ported by said sprin lankseat portion an a bolster support y581d nest of springs, said bolster emg formed with a pocket overlying aportion of the nest ofsprings whereby certain of the springs areinitially by movement of the bolster and the remainder of the nest ofsprings comes into action only after a predetermined amount of bolstermovement.

4. In a car truck, in combination, a standard side frame formed with abolster opening of normal size and a standard spring plank seat portionunderlying said open ing, a nest of springs supported by sa1d springplank seat portion and a, bolster supported by said nest of springs,said bolster being provided with a pocket over one of the units of saidsprings whereby said spring is not stressed by the bolster until movement thereof corresponding to the depth of the pocket.

5. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with bolstercolumns leaving an opening therebetween normally adapted for a four unitnest of springs and a spring plank seat portion beneath said opening, afive unit nest of springs supported by said spring plank seat portionand arranged with two pairs of transversely disposed springs,longitudinally spaced to allow just sufficient clearance with respect tothe bolster columns, the spring units of each pair being spacedsufiiciently for receiving the fifth spring unit centrally disposed withrespect thereto, and a bolster supported by means of said nest ofsprings but formed with a pocket directly over the central spring unitand adapted for receiving the upper end thereof, whereby said bolster isinitially supported by only the four outer spring units until after a redetermined movement thereof correspon ing to the depth of the pocket,when it is su ported by the five units of the nest of springs.

6. In a car truck, in combination, a. side frame formed with a bolsteropening and a spring plankv seat portion beneath said opening, a springplank positioned on said seat portion, a five unit nest of springssupported on said spring plank above the seat portion of the frame, fourof said spring units being arranged approximately as a. square in outeand formed as two pairs of spring units positioned, respectively,inwardly and outwardly of the longitudinal 'centerline of the associatedside frame, the units. of each pair being spaced as far apart aspossible yet close enough together to allow sufficient clearance forinsertion in the bolster opening, the corresponding spring units of thepairs of springs bein spaced sufiiciently grfaifisversely of each ot erfor allowing the with respect to the four spring units, a bolstersupported by said nest of springs and formed with a portion initiallyengaging all but the central spring unit, said portion being formed witha recess overl the central spring unit and adapted or the reception ofthe upper end thereof whereby the spring unit to be positioned centrallycapacity of said central spring unit is reserved until after apredetermined compression of the other spring units.

7. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with acompression member, a tension member and bolster guide columns spacingintermediate portions of said compression and tension members leaving awindow opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member, beneaththe window opening, being laterally widened to form a spring plank seatportion, a spring plank supported on said seat portion, a live unit nestof springs supported on said spring plank, four of said units beingarranged in rectangular formation with the long dimension disposedtransversely of the side frame and only slightly longer than the shortdimension, the outer rectangular outline of said springs being shortenough for insertion between the bolster columns and wide enough forreceiving the fifth spring unit centrally of the springs with suflicientclearance therebetween, a bolster, the corresponding end of which issupported by the springs and retaining means for the four rectangulararranged spring units serving to properly space the same with respect toeach other, the spring plank and bolster, separate retaining means forthe central spring unit, Said bolster being. formed with a springreceiving pocket over the central spring unit whereby said unit is notcompressed until aftlgil; a predetermined movement of the 8. In a cartruck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolster opening and aspring plank seat portion underlying said opening, a standard four unitnest of springs supported by means of said spring plank seat portion andan additional spring unitof the same size as the units of the nest ofsprings centrally disposed with respect to the four units, said fourunits, for that purpose, being moved longitudinally toward thecorresponding ends of the side frame until just enough clearance remainsfor insertion in the bolster opening and moved transversely toward thecorresponding sides of the side frame until just enough clearance isprovided for insertion of the fifth spring unit centrally thereof, abolstersupported by means of said springs and formed with a recessoverlying the central spring unit and adapted for receiving a portionthereof whereby the capacity of said spring unit is reserved until aftera predetermined compression of the other spring units. a

9. In a car' truck, in combination, a side frame formed with a bolsteropening and a spring plank seat portion underlying said opening, a nestof springs of uniform normal height supported by said spring plank seatportion, and a bolster supported by-said nest of springs, one of saidmembers being so constructed that the springs will not be simultaneouslyloaded.

10. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compressionand tension members spaced at intermediate portions thereof by bolsterguide columns todefine a bolster opening and a spring plank seat portionunderlying said opening, a spring plank supported on said spring plankseat portion, a nest of springs supported on said spring plank, and abolster supported on said nest of springs, the construction of saidmembers being such that the major portion of the load' is carried by thesprings adjacent the bolster guide columns, thereby relieving thecentral portion of the nest of springs of maximum stresses. I

11. In a car truck, in combination,a side frame formed with a bolsteropening and a spring plank seat portion underlying said opening, a nestof springs supported by said spring plank seat portion and abolstersupported by said nest of springs, said bolster being formed with aportion at a higher elevation than the adjacent spring supported surfaceand overlying part of the nest of springs whereby certain of the springsare initially stressed by movement of the bol ster and the remainder ofthe nest of springs comes into action only after a predetermined amountof bolster movement.

12. In a car truck, in combination, aside frame formed with a bolsteropening and a spring plank seat portion beneath said opening, a springplank positioned on said seat portion, a five unit nest of springssupported on said spring plank above the seat portion of the frame, fourof said spring units being arranged approximately as a square in outlineand formed as two pairs of spring units positioned, respectively,inwardly and outwardly of the longitudinal center line of the associatedside frame, the units of each pair being spaced as far apart as possibleyet close enough together to allow suflicient clearance for insertion inthe bolster opening, the corresponding spring units of the pairs ofsprings being spaced sufficientlytransversely of each other for allowingthe fifth spring unit to be positioned centrally with respect to thefour spring units, a bolster supported by said nest of springs andformed with a portion initially engaging a part only of said nest ofsprings whereby the capacity of the remainder is reserved until after apredetermined compression of said part.

13. A bolster formed with a ortion at each end thereof adapted to overie 5 rings for the resilient support thereof, sai portion being formedwith a centrally positioned downwardly opening recess for re serving thecapacity of a portion of said springs until after a predeterminedbolster movement.

14. A spring plate for a five unit nest of springs formed with a bossadapted to engage within a centrally positioned spring unit of the nest,and erforated for the reception of a retaining olt, aperturedembossments positioned on either side of said boss and adapted forreceiving retaining bolts, whereby certain of the spring units may haveindependent movement with respect to the remainder of the nest ofsprings, and annular spring locating flanges provided for the other fourspring units.

15. A spring plate for a five unit nest of springs formed with a centralaperture, apertured embossments positioned on either side of saidaperture and adapted for receiving retaining bolts, whereby certain ofthe spring units may have independent move ment with respect to theremainder of the .nest of springs, and annular spring locating flangesprovided only for the other four spring units.

In testimony whereof we alfix our signatures.

BYERS w. KADEL. DONALD s. BARROWS.

